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A total of $315,820 in funding has been approved for 48 applicants from not-for-profit organisations working with refugees and migrants, Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga announced today.

The money comes from the Office of Ethnic Communities’ Settling In fund, which is available for projects or initiatives that seek to support successful settlement for refugee and migrant communities in New Zealand. 

The first group of graduates from a government initiative to nurture future ethnic leaders will gather at Parliament tomorrow.

Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says the event recognises high-potential young ethnic leaders.

"We set up the Young Leaders Programme to cultivate skills, talent and connections and encourage young ethnic leaders to pursue careers in the state sector. This is a further step in creating greater ethnic diversity in leadership positions in government."

Minister for Ethnic Communities Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says he is looking forward to Diwali, the ancient Hindu festival celebrated in New Zealand each year.

Diwali festivities begin this weekend in Auckland, with events including live music, dance, food and art. Events around the country will be held over the next three weeks.

Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has welcomed new statistics which show New Zealand will become more ethnically diverse in the future.

Figures released by Statistics New Zealand today show that across New Zealand, ethnic diversity is projected to increase over the next two decades.

“New Zealand prides itself on being a welcoming and ethnically harmonious country. We have a high standard of living and we offer a safe haven for those fleeing conflict elsewhere in the world.

Not-for-profit organisations working directly with refugees and recent migrants can apply for Settling In funding from today, Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has announced.

The Settling In fund is a contestable funding round administered by the Office of Ethnic Communities to help local communities support the successful integration and participation of people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. 

More than 1000 people a week are now using the telephone interpreter service Language Line, Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

Over the last year, almost 56,500 phone calls were made to access Language Line, which allows non-English speakers to communicate with organisations across the public, private and not for profit sectors confidentially and free of charge.

Ramadan has begun and Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga wishes all Muslims in New Zealand the best for the holy month.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is regarded as the time in which the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. To mark this event, Muslims around the world fast for a month.

Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga will hold an evening community forum for residents of central Auckland tomorrow.

"The forums will give us opportunities to discuss the issues and challenges facing our ethnic communities," Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

"We will also focus on how we can help New Zealand move forward together economically, socially and culturally by working closely to inform government policy and practice.

Today is a chance for all New Zealanders to join African communities around the world in celebrating Africa Day, Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-liga says.

Africa Day will be celebrated with an event involving a diverse range of ethnic groups at Parliament this evening.

“I am delighted to join with New Zealand’s African communities to mark this significant occasion,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga will hold a nationwide series of evening community forums, beginning in Taupo tonight.

"The forums will give us opportunities to discuss the issues and challenges facing our ethnic communities," Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

"We will also focus on how we can help New Zealand move forward together economically, socially and culturally by working closely to inform government policy and practice.

Minister for Ethnic Communities Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has welcomed a report which shows New Zealanders feel more positive towards Asians.

The Asia New Zealand Foundation’s annual survey New Zealanders’ Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples 2014, shows events such as Diwali and Chinese New Year help non-Asian New Zealanders understand and engage with Asian cultures.

Expressing ourselves through language will be the focus of a gathering of academics, policymakers and speakers of different languages this week, Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

Lining up Language: Navigating Policy and Programmes is hosted by the Office of Ethnic Communities and will be held over two days at Te Papa in Wellington from Thursday.

The conference aims to foster discussion about the range of government policies and initiatives designed to promote the use and learning of languages in an increasingly multicultural New Zealand.

This year’s Race Relations Day gives all New Zealanders the chance to contribute to positive race relations and human rights, Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-liga says.

The theme this year is Big Change Starts Small. “We can all do our part, no matter how small, to ensure that New Zealanders of every ethnic background are treated with respect,” Mr Lotu-liga says.

Minister for Ethnic Communities Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has welcomed a new report which details the overwhelmingly positive influence Auckland’s increasing Asian population is having on the city.

The “Asian Auckland: The Multiple Meanings of Diversity” report by the Asia New Zealand Foundation has revealed the increasing diversity of Auckland’s Asian communities.

The report calls Auckland one of the world’s “super-diverse” cities, a name Mr Lotu-Iiga says ushers in an exciting new era for the city.

Greater alignment with New Zealand’s ethnic communities is the focus of a change in the government agency that works to promote the benefit of ethnic diversity.

From today, the Office of Ethnic Affairs will be known as the Office of Ethnic Communities, a change that follows the renaming of the ministerial portfolio from Ethnic Affairs to Ethnic Communities after last year’s general election.      

The Chinese Year of the Sheep will be celebrated this evening at Parliament at an event hosted by Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Prime Minister John Key will also join around 200 people at the evening function where they will be welcomed with a traditional lion dance.

“Chinese New Year gives us an opportunity to take stock, to celebrate our achievements and set goals.  It is a time to lay the foundations for a brighter and more prosperous future,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

A record number of calls to essential services have been made by non-English speakers using the government’s interpreting service Language Line, says Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

Nearly 55,000 phone calls to Language Line were made by people who speak little or no English to communicate with government agencies, health providers, banks, insurance companies and utilities companies in 2013/14.

Ethnic Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga congratulates the recipients of New Year’s Honours who have served their ethnic communities.

"These outstanding people have worked tirelessly to support their respective communities,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga. “Their efforts help ensure that people of diverse cultures maintain their own heritage while joining the wider New Zealand community.”

This year’s recipients include:

ONZM